Evaluation of a medication-monitoring service for geriatric patients in a congregate housing facility.

The effects of a medication-monitoring service provided by a pharmacist in a congregate housing facility for geriatric patients were evaluated. A medication-monitoring service was provided by a clinical pharmacist to geriatric patients in two congregate housing facilities during an 18-month period. Patients were offered the service if they had histories of noncompliance and were referred for this reason to the study by physicians, staff, or family. The clinical pharmacist made weekly visits to each patient for assessment and provision of instructions and reinforcement regarding medication compliance. Medications were provided in special reminder packages prepared by a technician, and cost data for both materials and time were recorded. A total of 14 patients were referred to the study and received services for at least three months. Eight of these patients received services for one year. The costs of providing the service were $33/patient/month for personnel and $2/patient/month for materials. An 82-100% compliance rate was recorded; the mean compliance rate was 96%. Patients or their legal representatives paid the pharmacist directly for costs incurred. A medication-monitoring service is useful for geriatric patients whose primary limitation is inability to administer their own medications.

In vitro detection of possible in vivo drug interactions. Part 2: A study of the effect of hydrochlorothiazide and frusemide on the partition coefficient and solubility characteristics of propranolol hydrochloride.

The apparent partition coefficient (Kapp.) of propranolol hydrochloride alone and in the presence of hydrochlorothiazide and frusemide were determined between chloroform and artificial intestinal juice. Both diuretics significantly reduced the relatively high Kapp. of propranolol hydrochloride. On the other hand, the relatively low Kapp. of both diuretics were significantly increased by the presence of propranolol hydrochloride. Also in vitro solubility studies were carried out using the Sartorius solubility simulator. The frequently prescribed therapeutic combination of propranolol hydrochloride tablets and either hydrochlorothiazide or frusemide tablets seems, on the whole to have similar in vitro solubility patterns when compared to those of the individual drugs. However, the mutual effects on the apparent partition coefficient revealed in the present work can be one of the factors responsible for improving the in vitro absorption of propranolol hydrochloride and the diuretics when present together.

A study of the in vitro diffusion kinetics of acetylsalicylic acid using the Sartorius absorption simulator.

A unidirectional transport condition is often assumed when studying the in vitro diffusion of drugs. The present work describes a kinetic model that can be applied to beyond the first diffusion period. Acetylsalicylic acid was chosen as a model substance and its in vitro diffusion was studied using the Sartorius absorption simulator. The results of the two kinetic models (unidirectional and bidirectional) were in good agreement with each other. The curvature of the corrected substance concentration in the artificial plasma versus time plot can be used as a warning signal to detect passage beyond the first diffusion period.